The artwork “The Idol” was created by Rene Magritte in 1965 in Belgium. This piece is an oil painting on canvas, representing the Surrealism art movement and falls under the genre of symbolic painting. Currently, this artwork is located in a private collection.
In the artwork, a bird made of what appears to be stone or another solid material is depicted flying over a rocky terrain with a calm sea beyond. The contrasting presence of a heavy, stone-like bird in flight against the serene backdrop symbolizes the Surrealist theme, where the ordinary is depicted in an extraordinary or improbable manner. The detailed depiction of the rocks along the shore adds to the grounded earthly elements contrasting sharply with the bird’s improbable flight, highlighting Magritte’s skill in juxtaposing reality with fantasy.
